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Recent content by Smartie
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Inside IR35: as bad as its reputation? (quick views for a ContractorUK piece)
My last gig started outside, went inside then ended up as perm with a recruitment agency/'consultancy'. The rate went up to compensate though and I was being paid perm as if I was outside, plus benefits. For six years in total. So, not a common experience I guess, but looking at it now with all...- Smartie
- Post #20
- Forum: Business / Contracts
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State of the Market
Reportedly, AI is definitely coming for those with a largely mathematical, specialised skillset as it solves all the longstanding maths problems that no-one has managed in 80 or 90 years.- Smartie
- Post #16,064
- Forum: Business / Contracts
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How best to get an outside rate based on the inside rate
I found this site quite useful when moving from contract to consultant. Not the same situation, but you can see the effect of pension contributions, tax code etc. for a particular income. https://listentotaxman.com/- Smartie
- Post #8
- Forum: Business / Contracts
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State of the Market
The changes to NI relief (salary sacrifice) are relatively tiny, compared to the advantages of saving into a pension. Changes to inheritance tax are potentially bigger, but pensions are never intend to be a tax dodge where people spent it last to pass on money IHT free. Say you earn £160k...- Smartie
- Post #16,021
- Forum: Business / Contracts
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State of the Market
Turned on my LinkedIn 'Open to work' yesterday (only for recruiters). Got a call from an agent today for a role with a decent rate and mostly work at home. First call in ages.- Smartie
- Post #15,882
- Forum: Business / Contracts
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State of the Market
That's just basic project management and not incompatible with Agile. Fixed deadline - reduce scope (deliver MVP), increase resource or reduce quality. In your case, resource was increased by working longer hours.- Smartie
- Post #15,873
- Forum: Business / Contracts
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State of the Market
That's not my experience in any of the places I've worked. It can and does work well, if the right people are in place. A (very) senior advocate for the methodology. A strong Product Owner to manage new and urgent requirements and question the priorities. A good Scrum Master to push back...- Smartie
- Post #15,867
- Forum: Business / Contracts
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State of the Market
This sort of hybrid methodology is very common especially in financial services. Senior stakeholders often want classic milestones and reporting. Pretty easy to do this by defining key features and priorities and staging deliveries with deadlines, then using agile within that framework. I've...- Smartie
- Post #15,863
- Forum: Business / Contracts
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State of the Market
I've seen several ads recently where the requirement is for experience of both waterfall and agile.- Smartie
- Post #15,834
- Forum: Business / Contracts
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Tax Update 2026: simplification, modernisation and fairness
Buffet might be 40% in cash, but he's a huge fan of passive investing and historically cash makes poor returns. Also worth noting he had a really good start, which is documented here: https://monevator.com/how-did-warren-buffett-get-rich/ Also worth checking out: 60/40 portfolio issues...- Smartie
- Post #26
- Forum: Accounting / Legal
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De-boomed!
Looks like the squabbling has migrated to this thread anyway - maybe it will stay on topic. -
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Tax Update 2026: simplification, modernisation and fairness
If you're investing for the long term and still accumulating, the evidence is that your best returns come from being mostly in equities and staying invested. Almost everyone in cash will miss the week or two period where equities jump after a crash and several false starts for the next bull run...- Smartie
- Post #24
- Forum: Accounting / Legal
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De-boomed!
A client I picked up freelance, but due to IR35 worries was eventually transferred to a consultancy perm contract working at the same client and at the same rates. With all the complaints about the state of the market, I was entirely happy to let it run its course. -
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De-boomed!
Today is the last day of my almost 6 year permanent contract! Couldn't give it up, but quite excited about it finishing and getting some time off to chill over summer. The 'state of the market' post is now closed though - how am I to ponder/bemoan any lack of results in applying for new roles? -
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Tax Update 2026: simplification, modernisation and fairness
Also a recent change to cash in a stocks & shares ISA to come in 2027. 22% tax on interest on cash in these https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fiscal-events-2026-factsheets/isa-reform-2027-anti-circumvention-rules-factsheet Cash can form an important part of a diversified portfolio and...- Smartie
- Post #6
- Forum: Accounting / Legal
